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My yorkie is 4 years old and has only been in heat 3 times, the last of which was probably back in December. We recently (April I think) 'rescued' a non neutered mail. The are alone together quite often.

For the past few weeks or so, my female has been acting VERY weird...guarding the oddest things (sandpaper, for one!) and has definitely gained a little bit of weight (although she was no skinny minnie to begin with). She also is panting more (and it's NOT that hot in the house) and seems a bit lazier.

IS it possible she could be pregnant? I don't want to look dumb taking her to the vet and telling him that, no she has not been in heat, but I think she's pregnant if that is not a possibility.

It is probable that she is since you left her alone with a male. I would not worry about looking dumb at this point....take her temp and get her to the vet asap and have x-rays done to determine if she can whelp or will need a c-section. If she is not, make arrangements to have her spayed and him neutered. If she is read www.debbiejensen.com for a crash course in whelping and hope that you have enough time to get info to whelp safely. You will need supplies on hand (hemostats, clean towels, KY jelly, heating pad(the kind that don't shut off), bulb syringe and a plastic underbed storage box/rubbermaid works well for a whelping box) and if you know anyone who has whelped pups before...get help. If that isn't possible you can contact me and I will do what I can to help you. How big is your girl and boy?

It is probable that she is since you left her alone with a male. I would not worry about looking dumb at this point....take her temp and get her to the vet asap and have x-rays done to determine if she can whelp or will need a c-section. If she is not, make arrangements to have her spayed and him neutered. If she is read www.debbiejensen.com for a crash course in whelping and hope that you have enough time to get info to whelp safely. You will need supplies on hand (hemostats, clean towels, KY jelly, heating pad(the kind that don't shut off), bulb syringe and a plastic underbed storage box/rubbermaid works well for a whelping box) and if you know anyone who has whelped pups before...get help. If that isn't possible you can contact me and I will do what I can to help you. How big is your girl and boy?

You got some great advice here. I wish you all the best with your girl.

[QUOTE=txshopper73]The only way that you'd look dumb is if she whelps a litter and you say that you never knew she was pregnant.

Take your girl to a vet. Your vet can offer you lots of good advice and assist you with anything else.
QUOTE]

Well, maybe not the only way you'd look dumb...if you showed up with her at the vet wearing underwear on your head or something....
Oh, oops. Yes, you definately need to get her to the vet ASAP to have the situation confirmed (or denied). There are things you will need to do for her NOW.

Wow...thanks for all the advice. We totally never planned to mate her and after we acquired the boy time just flew and before we realized it, 4-5 months had gone by and we hadn't gotten either of them fixed (we are SO not irresponsible people - honest!)

I keep feeling her belly but it just feels squishy...would it be harder if she was pregnant?

We'll get her to the vet asap to get it checked out. I'm hoping NO puppies! It sounds like alot of work. My husband is a firefighter-paramedic and has delivered babies...at least we have that! LOL

Sammy (girl) weighs 8 lbs and Petey weighs 4. (And I think he's gained a bit since he came to live with us).

Is the guarding of objects a sign of nesting? She has NEVER done that before, unless it was food! (not hers...if there was a plate of something sitting on an end table or whatever she'll park herself near it and 'guard' it)

Anyway...thanks so very much for the advice. Of course the kids are hoping for puppies, but not me! How does anyone give away their puppies? I think I'd fall in love with them and want to keep them all!!!

with false pregnancies they can devolp milk and everything and yes gaurd things. even stuffed animals which become their babies. If I were you I would take her to the vet to make sure. Its better to pay the money for the x ray and not be preg than to have to pay for an emergency c section in the middle of the night. also if she isnt pregnant you wanna watch for signs of pyrometra. http://www.thepetcenter.com/sur/pyo.html

It's so important to keep un-altered males and females seperate because a heat cycle can pop up on you in a flash. We check our girls on a weekly basis even if it's no where near their time for next cycle. Take her to your vet, and do you have an approximate time when she could have conceived? If so, count 63 days from that day and schedule an x-ray the week prior to her due date. You will most likely know if she is preggo because she will change alot, she will get a firm, hard tummy buldging in some cases, her teats will enlarge and her appetite will go nuts! lol!
Nesting is also a sign of pregnancy in female dogs. Give her an area away from your male with a bed and box, secluded from the boy. Something just of her own. Best wishes to you and I will hope for the best for you!

PS- You will not look "dumb" to your vet by taking precautions and doing right by her...They will see your bringing her in as taking responsibility and caring for her no matter what.

I would be more concerned about pyrometia in an unspayed 4 yr old female as oppose to an accidental breeding. Pyrometia can be fatal if not caught in time..and symtoms are not always detected in time...good luck..